The Five Bells, East Finchley

Being new to the area I thought that I give this place a try and also the other pub that mentioned in a review, The Bald Faced Stag. It is correct that some of the staff at the Five Bells are foreign but I found tham to be charming and most helpful, and at least they are working unlike a lot of our own young people. I ate at lunchtime (very cheaply) and had no problems with the meal and also the ales were fine (well I only tried two and a Guiness!!). There was no music on at lunchtime and the tellys were on but no too loud. When I asked a 'regular' local about live music I was informed that there has only been two occasions where a band has played live since the summer, although there is karaoke but it is only one night a month on the first Saturday evening of month (be warned if you don't like karaoke). Having visited now I have no concerns about bringing my wife and kids back here for a meal. I don't know why the previous review was soo bad, perhaps some staff have changed since then of perhaps it was just "one of those nights!!"
Leaving the Five Bells I thought that I would try out the Bald Faced Stag. To my horror I found that the Guiness costs �3.20 compared to �2.54 in the Five Bells. I now know where I will be eating and drinking in the future.

20 Dec 2007 17:21